It’s hard to believe, but over 320 days since the first episode of Bakemonogatari aired on July 3, 2009, the show is still not complete. It has been almost 3 months since the latest episode was released. It was easily the most popular show of 2009, dominating the chatter in anime fandom both in Japan and out. I thought it would be interesting to take a look at this incredible – unprecedented? – delay from a couple different perspectives.
Wait Between Episodes:
Usually, series will be aired on a set schedule weekly, leading to a predictable wait from episode to episode. Some will have recap episodes or skip a week for special occasions, leading to a 2 week wait. Bakemonogatari followed this for its 12 on-air episodes, but its online releases has failed to do so. Its BD/DVD releases have failed to follow schedule as well, as Volume 4: Nadeko Snake was delayed by a month, from December 23 to January 27. Note (5/25/2010): This chart was updated to reflect the news from 5/21/2010 – 1 day after I made this post – that the final volume was delayed to July 28.
What’s Happened Since the Last Episode:
The last episode of Bakemonogatari to be released was 14, titled Tsubasa Cat: Part 4. It was streamed on Shaft’s website on February 23, 2010. Here’s a look at what the main cast and its director, Akiyuki Shinbo, have done since then.
Money Left on the Table:
For a time in 2009, Bakemonogatari dominated the mindshare of anime fans in the East and West alike. The sales of its BD and DVD releases in 2009 are proof enough. But it’s difficult to keep a franchise relevant when there is literally nothing new happening in it. You gotta wonder, with new shows coming out and gaining popularity, how much in potential revenue are Shaft and its sponsors losing out on due to this interminable delay?
Data was collected from Anime News Network and Tokyo Toshokan. Images are from official art released by Shaft or screens from episodes themselves.
Of course, my research could have some holes in it; I had to rely heavily on 2nd hand sources because I do not understand Japanese. If you see any errors or omissions, please let me know in the comments.
Interesting case you have built. I’m glad I never got around to watching the web-extra episodes, as it would be painful to get part way through a story and then experience those kind of delays.
I wouldn’t say I really built a case or anything. I just wanted to use some numbers to provide a perspective on this delay.
And even just watching the TV aired episodes doesn’t make you immune from the delay, because Tsubasa Cat ended with 1 “real” episode (Tsubasa Cat part 2 was not part of the Tsubasa Cat story), starting things off but not concluding the story. I do recommend you watch the currently released web episodes, because they’re pretty good. Particularly 14 at the second half, when we get to see the real Tsubasa Cat interact with Koyomi.
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-05-21/bakemonogatari-vol-6-delayed-from-june-9-to-july-28
Was this news announced before or after you started work on this massive post? still over a month till the final ep streams is really annoying!
Well, as you can see by the dates, I made this post a day before this announcement. The post itself was about 3 days in the making as I did the research and created the images in my free time.
And I can assure you, I had no insider information. What a weird coincidence!
I’ll be updating the release date image when I get a chance.
it is pretty sad that it’s taking them so long to finish. then again it almost feels like some kind of marketing ploy, since the show was so extremely popular they really aren’t losing that many fans by taking their time.
Are they really not losing any fans? Think of how much Bakemonogatari dominated the anime community last year. Think of the shows that have come since that have taken over. K-On!! Durarara! Angel Beats! Railgun. Maybe people still like Bakemonogatari, but Shaft has failed to strike while the iron was hot. With plenty of shows to distract them, the audience is not going to care about Bakemonogatari as much when it OS finally finished.
Not to mention how the long wait between episodes screws up the pacing. It can be tough for a viewer to get back into a show after not seeing it for 3 months.